Supporting the transition to practice: preceptor behaviors that foster a positive student preceptorship experience

Preceptors support nursing students when transitioning to the professional nursing role. This study explored student perceptions of preceptor characteristics that promoted or hindered learning.

A Likert-scale survey including two open-ended questions was sent to 571 nursing students completing a preceptorship experience. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses to the Likert-scale items. Qualitative analysis was completed on the two exploratory questions to extract themes.

Students rated the preceptor between 4=Very Good and 5=Outstanding for all items. No significant differences in scores were found when comparing results between programs. Themes assisting in learning included: increasing independence gradually and pushing out of comfort zone. Themes identified that hindered learning included: doubting self and being pushed aside.

Future implications include communicating preceptorship objectives and providing ways to apply research to practice. These findings can guide collaboration between academic and practice partners to assist with transition to practice.